At a Glance

Led by local experts, venture into some of Louisiana’s refuges, reserves and sanctuaries to observe magnificent birds and wildlife in their natural habitat and gain a fuller understanding of human impacts on this pristine wilderness. For “lagniappe” (lan-yap: a little something extra), learn about Cajun history and heritage, culture and traditions, and enjoy music and dancing.

Activity Level

Moderate

Walking and standing for an hour and a half on a field trip to a folk life village. Walking up to a mile on uneven terrain at Lake Martin. Ability to maneuver into and out of a small boat. At Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, participants must be able to walk from venue to venue on uneven, grassy terrain.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Explore Lake Martin (on foot and by boat), home to egrets, herons and alligators!

Ride a pontoon boat into the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp — the largest river basin swamp in America — for a close-up look at native wildlife.

Trace the journey from Acadians to Cajuns, learn the Cajun Waltz and Two-Step and go dancing at a popular local dance hall/restaurant.

Featured Expert

All Experts

David Greely

David Greely, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is a Cajun fiddler, singer, songwriter, and amateur historian known for his skill at bringing out the hidden gems of Cajun repertoire — and for telling a great story. He performed for decades in rural Cajun dance halls as well as the international folk scene as a founding member of the legendary Mamou Playboys, garnering four Grammy nominations. David has now struck out on his own, making hearts dance with small acoustic ensembles.

Stacey Scarce

David Greely

Suggested Reading List

View 9 books

PsychoTherapy for Cajuns: A Traditional Culture Struggles for Survival in a Crazy World

by Greg Guirard

A traditional culture struggles for survival in a crazy world.

French, Cajun, Creole, Houma: A Primer on Francophone Louisiana

by Carl A. Brasseaux

In recent years, ethnographers have recognized south Louisiana as home to perhaps the most complex rural society in North America. More than a dozen French-speaking immigrant groups have been identified there, Cajuns and white Creoles being the most famous. In this guide to the amazing social, cultural, and linguistic variation within Louisianas French-speaking region, Carl A. Brasseaux presents an overview of the origins and evolution of all the Francophone communities.

Cajun Country

by Barry Ancelet, Glen Pitre, Jay Edwards

An insightful study of the people of south Louisiana. It examines their traditional culture and its impact on modern ways.

Scattered to the Wind: Dispersal and Wanderings of the Acadians, 1755-1809

by Carl A. Brasseaux

The dispersal of the Acadian populationperhaps better known to historians as the Grand Drangementis unquestionably the pivotal event in Acadian history. Longfellow attempted to portray the tragic consequences of the deportation of the Acadian population from the Bay of Fundy Basic through his epic Evangeline, but the narrow focus of this work failed to convey the magnitude of the disruption and the resulting misery upon the Acadian population. Scholarly works dealing with the Acadian dispersal have also tended to focus on one group, or one aspect of this historical event. Scattered to the Wind fills the resulting need for an overview of the tragic episode, providing detailed accounts of the dispersal, Acadian life during the exile, the ensuing migrations, and the ultimate transplantation of various Acadian groups in widely separated geographic areas. Segments of the booklet examine the impact of the Grand Drangement, the dispersal, Acadians in each of the Eastern seaboard colonies, as well as post-dispersal Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Madawaska (Maine), England, France, Saint-Domingue, Martinique, French Guiana, the Falkland Islands, St. Pierre, Miquelon, and Louisiana. This short monograph also examines little known late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Acadian migrations to the lower Mississippi Valley. This fully documented narrative will provide engrossing reading for genealogists, history buffs, and anyone interested in Louisiana's Acadian heritage.

Cajun Families of the Atchafalaya : Their Ways and Words

by Greg Guirard

A cultural documentary, with 143 beautiful duo-tone photographs, of the people -- mostly French-speaking Cajuns -- who earn their livelihood by fishing, crabbing, crawfishing, trapping, and hunting alligators, turtles and bullfrogs in Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin.

Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine

by Marcelle Bienvenu, Carl A. Brasseaux and Ryan Brasseaux

Founding of New Acadia: The Beginnings of Acadian Life in Louisiana, 1765-1803

by Carl A. Brasseaux

Inherit the Atchafalaya

by Greg Guirard & Ray Brassieur

Greg Guirard's stunning photographs, fascinating text by Ray Brassieur, woven together to tell the rich history of the Acadians.

Cajun Music: Its Origins and Development

by Barry Jean Ancelet

Author Barry Ancelet examines the multicultural and multiracial origins of Cajun music, the major figures in the music's development and the circumstances which caused these diverse musical strains to fuse into the the culture's present musical repertoire. Ancelet also traces the evolution of the traditional French ballads that the Acadian settlers took with them to Canada and the songs that the Acadians sang during their years of exile, as well as describes the new musical influences that were encountered in Louisiana.

Morning: Field trip to the Jean Lafitte Center to view a film on the deportation of the Acadians, as well as their museum, which contains artifacts from the early life of Acadians in south Louisiana to current day, followed by a trip to the Vermilionville Folk Life Village.

Lunch: La Cuisine de Maman (on-site café at Vermilionville).

Afternoon: A Little History, A Little Fiddle Music - with David Greely. David has traced his family's journey from France to Acadie, back to France and on to Louisiana. His story will clarify some of your questions about the Acadians and their exile from Nova Scotia.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY

3

Lake Martin nature trail; Martin Accordions

Lafayette, LA

B,L,D

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette

Activity note: At Lake Martin, walking up to 2 miles on slightly uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Daily breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Visit to Lake Martin. We'll take a walk on their nature trail, accompanied by a local naturalist. We'll look and listen for what nature has to offer.

Lunch: Dwyer's Cafe

Afternoon: Bill Fontenot will talk about the natural history of the Atchafalaya Basin, as well as the wildlife that inhabits the basin.

Dinner: Deano's Pizza - pizza with a Louisiana twist!

Evening: Martin Accordions - Learn how accordions are made and experience a fabulous example of a Louisiana tradition with the Martin Family Band. Not to be missed!

DAY

4

Atchafalaya Basin by Pontoon Boat

Lafayette, LA

B,L,D

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette

Breakfast: Daily breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Field trip to McGee's Landing in Henderson, where we'll board a pontoon boat for a tour of the historic Atchafalaya Basin.

Lunch: Poche's Market

Afternoon: Learn the Cajun waltz & two-step in a dance class taught by a local Cajun couple who know exactly how to pace the lesson so that even novices and experienced dancers alike can have some fun.

Dinner: Local Cajun restaurant.

DAY

5

Lake Martin Swamp, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

Lafayette, LA

B,L,D

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette

Breakfast: Daily breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Lake Martin swamp tour. The views are just what you would expect in a beautiful Louisiana swamp. Moss draped cypress trees, wildlife that varies by season. A memorable trip. (Depending on the weather, this trip might occur on a different day of the itinerary.)

Lunch: Local Cajun restaurant.

Afternoon: We will spend the afternoon at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, a local festival which celebrates the music and the food of the area. This outdoor festival is held in Girard Park, which covers several acres in the heart of the city. The park is adjacent to the University of Louisiana @ Lafayette. There will be two main musical stages, as well as a folk roots tent, a cooking demo tent, and a jam tent. Food, music, dancing, and local culture ... everything you could want in a south Louisiana experience!

Dinner: Pont Breaux's Cajun Restaurant.

Evening: Live music and dancing at one of our most famous local restaurant / dance halls.

DAY

6

Program Concludes

Lafayette, LA

B

Breakfast: Daily breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Breakfast is available from 6:30 - 10:00. Check-out time is noon.

Meals

14 Meals

5 Breakfasts

4 Lunches

5 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

This programme has a really good balance between Cajun culture and wildlife of the area. The presentations were up close and personal, and so were the critters! Food was great, restaurants chosen with great care. Leadership was exceptional, very organized and a veritable font of knowledge. I highly recommend.

This was my fourth Road Scholar program and it exceeded my expectations. In a very short time, our coordinator ensured we were immersed in the history, music and food of a fascinating culture and we were afforded excellent wildlife and nature viewing led by excellent local experts

Cajun Wildlife Experience tour is Excellent! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in the Cajun way of life and wildlife tours. It is a unique experience into the culture, language and history of the Acadians and Creole people, plus the food and music entertainment is awesome. This is one to "not miss".

I loved this program. The Cajun people and the culture, music, food and wildlife of southern and western Louisiana are wonderful. The Atchafalaya swamp is vast, utterly beautiful, a natural history gem of the first order. I am so glad I visited this part of our country.

Road Scholar brings to light another culture few know about: the Cajuns and the area of Acadian Louisiana. The music and the swamps and critters as well as the food was new to me (and I live in the next state)